(614) March | 2023

BIG PICTURE

See more on Columbus' history on pg. 64.

A postcard depicting the now-defunct Kahiki Supper Club, a beloved Polynesian-themed eatery that was demolished in 2000

JACK MCLAUGHLIN Editor-In-Chief

Postcard from the Past

One of the first weekends after I moved to Columbus, almost five years ago now, I remember thumbing through a box of weathered postcards, all of them featuring local destinations from the last 150 years.

“$1 each,” the box said.

I remember the oldest of the photographs were done in that strange sepia tone that feels like an entire pot of tea was splashed upon the pages. Others that were more recent (from the 1950s and 1960s) featured a weirdly-vibrant, almost pastel quality to them, an aspect I’ve only ever found in postcards from this era.

As I was combing through the box (which was hundreds of cards deep), I caught glimpses of Columbus in the 1960s and 1970s: the LeVeque, the old Christopher Inn, the Cultural Arts Center. A few photographs depicting the blur of foot traffic on an autumn day along East Broad Street. Runners lined up for the start of the Columbus Marathon, date undetermined. A woman and a child sitting on the grass, together, watching the Scioto run.

And while many of these postcards were blank on the back, others were not. Some were so full of writing that the text–the loopy, effusive script that immediately recalls the past–that the writing continued at weird angles in the margins. Most of the cards with writing weren’t legible: A few clipped words with the rest smudged or effaced by time.

“Is this the kind of card you want?”

“Got home safe”

“Miss you every day”

While nearly all of these places were new to me, I was still almost overwhelmed by the humanity of it all, by the nearly infinite number of narratives and history woven into the Columbus we know and love, even if I didn’t know Columbus at the time.

I bought a handful, and I still think about them today, about the way they make Columbus' history seemingly spring to life in the places all around us.

So our cover section this month, Lost Columbus, we’re determined to not let that history die. We take a deep dive into many of the buildings that shaped the city’s skyline–and even a bunch that didn’t–to keep the city’s past alive and well in the present.

� STAFF PICKS

Our staff picks

Some of us have lived in Columbus our entire lives, while others reading this may have picked up the magazine on a road trip through Ohio, with no intention of coming back. Either way—whether it’s from an entire lifetime or just a few minutes worth of time driving up 71–you have memories of Columbus.

Since this issue is dedicated to showing Columhus and its most memorable buildings through the years, we asked our staff about their favorite local landmarks.

The Columbus Convention Center. I grew up in its hallways, plus it looks amazing from above!

— Atlas Biro, Creative Designer The Shoe!

— Natalie Mastrantonio, Marketing Coordinator

The Rubino’s sign on Main Street in Bexley. It’s the pizza beacon.

— Jack McLaughlin, Editor

I always love seeing the Nationwide tower when its lit up!

— Justynne Pride, Marketing Director

The Anheuser Busch Plant as you're coming into town on 270. Always feels like welcome home.

— Meggin Weimerskirch, Advertising Director

Spent so much time at Easton when I was younger. Definitely gotta be there.

— Austin Black, Videographer

Bob's Bar, the cultural hub of the midwest.

— Lizzy Saunders, Brand Manager, (614) Beer

The Downtown Skyline has always moved me - especially love the LeVeque Tower.

— Paul VanHorn, Account Executive

ON the WEB

Do you check your news and entertainment updates on 614now.com? You should. Every day we’re posting Columbus’s top news, entertainment, and sports stories from throughout Central Ohio. Check out all the Columbus news online, including the new ones below at 614now.com and suscribe to our daily email!

→ Soda Bar With Build-Your-Floats Coming To Columbus-Area Soon

It was less than a year ago, on July 1, that Strawsers Ice Cream, Pop & Candy Shop opened its first brick and mortar space in Grove City, and now the concept is adding another central Ohio location... Keep reading by scanning the QR code.

→ At 28 Stories, The Tallest Rooftop Bar In Columbus Will Open Tomorrow

The Hilton Columbus Downtown tower is raising the bar. Literally. When its signature rooftop bar, Stories on High, opens to the public tomorrow, it will do so at a... Keep reading by scanning the QR code.

→

This Columbus Brewery Is Hosting A Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

You’ve probably used it to decide where to eat dinner, or which movie to see on a weekend night, but one Columbus brewery is creating an entire tournament around rock paper scissors... Keep reading by scanning the QR code.

PRES S PLAY

614 VIDEO

Did you know that (614) has a YouTube channel with some very shareable video content? It’s true. Keep an eye out for more on our (614) Columbus account and on social media. In the meantime, scan the QR code to check out our newest videos.

• Cotton Sugar Co.

After years in the corporate world, learn how Stephanie Doughtery left it all behind to chase this deliciously sweet dream.

• Only In Dublin:

VASO

Perched high on the rooftop of the AC Hotel Dublin, VASO is bringing Spanish-inspired Tapas and delicious cocktails with an unbeatable view!

• Spicing Up Columbus' Food Scene

Bringing the flavor and unique cooking styles of his home of Argentina, Sebastian LaRocca serves as the head chef of one of Columbus's hottest new dining and gathering spots: FYR.

• The Hottest Jewelry Trends

Trends come and trends go, but Worthington Jewelers makes a statement. Each uniquely beautiful piece guaranteed to stand up to the test of time a lifetime of beauty just for you.

@vegfoodie614

@eliotgilfix

@renwesterville

@shakenoeight

sparks will fly

The story of a music composition student turned welder who built a fast-growing firm from the ground up

↑ Garrett Dearth, Yellow Weld Welder/Fabricator

By Melinda Green

David Bullivant, CEO, Founder, and “Head Dude” of Yellow Weld, is out to disrupt the welding industry—although he might not say it in those words.

In two and a half years, Yellow Weld has made a name for itself, not only through its residential and artistic work, but also through its fresh approach to business development. That latter part, Bullivant’s forte, is truly what sets the firm apart from the crowd.

Bullivant first came to Columbus to study writing and musical composition at OSU. Learning a trade seemed like a sensible tool in his toolbelt, and he began welding to pay for his classes. He then entered an engineering program, but after about three years of college, he realized that his mind might not be compatible with formal education after all.

“Leaving school was a blessing in disguise,” he said. “I honestly worked like a dog for a long time, and leaving school was kind of the [solution] in the distance that I was trying to cover. It was hard to make that decision, but ultimately it was exactly what I needed.”

Bullivant started a career as a welder, but soon realized that welding alone wouldn’t be enough. “I knew I didn’t want to weld until I was old and my back hurt. I wanted to find something I could mature into and find myself exiting gracefully.” →

Story Design by Atlas Biro

Photos by Leonardo Carrizo

He started getting curious about prospecting and sales, and worked his way up to partner in another welding firm. “I spent about four years just trying to make that business into what I wanted it to be, and then I kinda came to the conclusion that it wasn’t gonna happen,” he recalled.

When he and his colleague, Sean Sanders (now known as “First Mate Dude"), found themselves in a tight spot, Sean gave David the nudge he needed, and the two struck out on their own in 2020.

Bullivant’s home, a small duplex in the Clintonville area, became the headquarters of the new operation.

“It really was tricky for a while,” Bullivant said. The pair picked up mobile work at first, subcontracting with ironworkers and steel erectors for a day or a few weeks at a time. Their big break was assisting with the Chipotle headquarters, earning them some momentum and the ability to put food on their tables.

Meanwhile, Bullivant developed a passion for entrepreneurship and business education through boots-on-the-ground work and listening to podcasts, viewing his firm’s problems as opportunities to research and learn.

“I do genuinely enjoy it; it feels a bit like playing chess against myself sometimes. He knows my every move, so it’s very hard to win. I owe it to myself to learn to be passionate about all of those aspects of what business needs,” he said. →

"i owe it to myself to learn to be passionate about all of those aspects"

↑ Sean Sanders and David Bullivant In the Yellow Weld Shop ↓

But the biggest thing that allowed him to build a team and scale into the 4,000-square-foot shop Yellow Weld occupies today was building the brand. Why yellow? Why the soaring bird logo? They mean nothing, he says. It’s a clean brand in an industry known for grit and grime.

“[Brand is] one thing that’s deficient in the construction space,” he noted. “Very few companies are thinking about brand, creating content, making themselves accessible, helping people understand not only the work that they do but the art form involved.

“We wanted a place where we could be ourselves and have an enjoyable career. If we can’t do that with a particular client, maybe that’s a client that should get their work done somewhere else. That was a weird choice at the beginning; you feel like you don’t get to make those decisions when you’re just trying to eat, but ultimately, it allowed us to approach our work with a little bit of dignity.”

And, also, welding can be an invisible and isolating industry. “It’s so prevalent around us that we’ve kind of become numb to it,” he said. “Almost every product that you touch either was welded, or was made by something that was welded. →

"for a period of time, my work was very invisible to the people around me"

“[At one point], I was welding for sixteen hours a day, and I couldn’t tell anybody what my day was like. I think that really informs a lot of the brand we have now, the visibility. That’s important because for a period of time, my work was very invisible to the people around me.”

From blog posts and a willingness to answer questions, to speaking engagements and workforce development initiatives, visibility and education are at the heart of Yellow Weld’s priorities now. “The difference between blue-collar and whitecollar is such a narrow line, and for some reason, people make it more than it really is,” Bullivant noted. “I would love to help people understand the opportunities that are available to them.”

Disruptive? He may not say it that way, but his commitment to branding and reinvention is definitely going to keep shaking up the local welding industry. ♦

To book a consultation or learn more about Yellow Weld, visit yellowweld.com.

↑ Yellow Weld Team (Left To Right) Garrett Dearth, Sean Sanders, Collins Laatsch, and David Bullivant

Lights, Camera,

Ivan Kane swaps burgers and shakes for the New York-style pizza of his youth in new Easton concept

↑ Pizza From Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce New York Pizzeria & Bar

By Sarah Sole

Photos by Aaron Massey

Story Design by Atlas Biro

The latest evolution of Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce has given its owner the chance to realize a longtime dream, trading burgers and shakes for a food more squarely associated with his New York roots.

“It’s all about the fold, it’s all about the crunch, it’s all about the crust,” said Kane. “What we’re doing is legit, authentic New York pizza.”

After opening last month, Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce New York Pizzeria & Bar, at 3959 Brighton Rose Square in Easton, is the product of renovations that began in mid-January. A cafe no longer, the space now has an atmosphere that more easily lends itself to the upstairs speakeasy.

“It’s really all about the party at 40 Deuce,” Kane said.

When Kane set out to change up his establishment, he decided he wanted to do something that was more organic to what he was doing upstairs. The speakeasy has enjoyed an expanded entertainment menu. Friday and Saturday nights, the space is known for its burlesque supper club experience, while on Wednesdays, the venue shows double feature movies via a super-sized, high-def video wall. This past month, the speakeasy also launched a Ladies Night live Magic Mike show. →

"What we're doing is legit, authentic new York pizza"

To that end, Kane wanted a bar-like atmosphere on the first floor, where his speakeasy patrons could stop to grab a slice before heading home for the night.

“I’m just tying the whole experience together,” he said.

To create authentic, New York-style pizza, Kane did his homework, meticulously researching recipes and working with individuals he described as “New York pizza royalty.” Medium and large pizzas are available by the pie or the slice.

The Times Square features the standard tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, while the Soho is a margherita pizza with buffalo mozzarella, diced tomatoes, basil, and tomato sauce. Other staples include the Gotham (vegetarian), the Checker Cab (Hawaiian), and the Midnight Cowboy (BBQ chicken). The menu is rounded out with salads and a handful of sides including buffalo chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, garlic knots, and Italian cheesy bread. Sweets include cinnamon knots, warm chocolate chip cookies, and of course, New York-style cheesecake. →

"It's really all about the party at Forty Deuce"

All photos: Inside Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce New York Pizzeria & Bar

Kane put the same amount of effort into the interior renovation as he did into his menu, creating a space with dimmer lights and a playful bar that will feature DJs during the week. Hours are also shifting to a more late-night atmosphere to better support the speakeasy.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, the pizzeria will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight. The space will be open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and from noon to midnight on Sundays. After 8 p.m., the venue will switch to 21 and over entry.

For Kane, the changes are in keeping with Easton’s continued expansion of its nightlife corridor.

“That’s really what this area was created for,” he said. ♦

Learn more about Ivan Kane and Forty Deuce at fortydeuce.com.

Top Film Strip Photos: Inside Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce New York Pizzeria & Bar

Bottom Film Strip Photos: Pizza from Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce New York Pizzeria & Bar

By Jack McLaughlin

Over a meandering tuba line, the trumpets come in, just as loud and swanky as the neon-soaked Louisiana streets the musicians call home.

“Do whatcha wanna, do whatcha wanna,” a raspy voice delivers like a cadence, on time with the song’s woozy 4/4 time signature.

Aptly named “Do Watcha Wanna,” the song is a big band classic from the iconic New Orleans group Rebirth Brass Band. And when the opening notes hit the speakers of her brand-new Arena District restaurant, Creole 2 Geaux, owner Janvièr Ward can’t hide her excitement if she tries.

“This is my favorite song. We even played it at my wedding,” she said, recalling it was played while Ward and her husband took part in the Louisiana tradition of dancing beneath an open umbrella.

And even on the new eatery’s walls, guests can take in flashes of the Big Easy, most clearly in the mural Ward had commissioned for the new restaurant, depicting Bourbon Street signage, gulf pelicans, a historic streetcar and a classic shotgun-style house that’s ever-present in the city. →

Story Design by Atlas Biro

Photos by Leonardo Carrizo

"Whenever I cook, no matter where I am, it can taste like home"

Because for Ward, the eatery–which began as a food truck in 2016 before opening in the East Market last spring–operates as more than just a place to eat. Creole 2 Geaux is a way for her to share a piece of New Orleans, of her family’s long-standing traditions, with her native Columbus.

“Making food is the connection I have to so much of my family, to my grandmother,” Ward said. “Whenever I cook, no matter where I am, it can taste like home.”

Ward is not from Louisiana–she’s a native of Columbus–but the bayou she visits every year is still in her blood, and where her ancestral roots lie. Now, her new, 1,900 square-foot eatery (which opened in late February) is the concept’s largest by far, and its first-ever standalone brick and mortar space.

“My goal for this location is to do something more personal and present. I want to be able to connect with my guests in a way I couldn’t really before. People want to know my story, they want to know my origins, my name and where I learned to cook,” she said. “While I love the Market, I haven’t been able to give that to people there; I don’t always get to see the looks on their faces, when they try the food for the first time. That’s big for me, to know that I did my grandma proud.”

Just like the city of New Orleans itself, where the past and present seem to overlap all the time, Ward is moving ahead with Creole 2 Geaux first by revitalizing a handful of dishes from its past.

For the first time since 2020, when Ward and her concept operated for a stint out of the Blu Note Jazz Cafe, Creole 2 Geaux will be offering breakfast beginning this spring. →

"That's big for me, to know that I did my grandma proud"

↑ Janvièr Ward, Owner of Creole 2 Geaux ↓ Finishing Touches Before Serving →

But not just any breakfast: This, she says, is the “Full Southern Breakfast.”

Breakfast highlights include mimosas, lamb chops, croquettes, a shrimp-crawfish omelet po’ boy, catfish and grits, and Ward’s Big Easy play on chicken and waffles, Lobster and Waffles.

The new location will also boast a full bar serving New Orleans-inspired drinks (Ward and her sister also operate a separate New Orleans-themed daiquiri and milkshake concept in the East Market), in addition to an expanded lunch and dinner menu.

The Arena District Creole 2 Geaux will even be initiating a new, 10 minute-or-less lunch menu for those who want something quick but delicious on the go.

But, as you likely know by now, you shouldn’t be in a rush on Ward’s account; she’d be happy if you stayed a while.

“The fact that we can get into the Arena District as a small, Black-owned business to showcase our Creole recipes, to bring them to even more people in Columbus, it’s something we’re really excited about,” she said. ♦

Check out Creole 2 Geaux's menu and learn more at creole2geaux.com

← Inside Creole 2 Geaux ↑ ↓ The Ward Family

By Sarah Sole / Photos by Jen Brown / Story

by Victoria Smith

With St. Patrick’s Day fast approaching, we’ve lined up some of our favorite Irish bars in the area to help you celebrate

design

346 S. HIGH ST. COLUMBUS

With its brick wall interior, Dempsey’s has been serving up a rustic atmosphere since opening in 2012. We suggest you bring an appetite. The menu features an Irish take on American favorites. There’s the Big R Rueben and the Irish Totchos, with tots, corned beef, kraut, Irish cheddar, and pub sauce. There’s also the Cottage Pie, with peas, carrots, ground beef, corn, and gravy served over mashed potatoes. Before you head out, make sure to save some room for Irish Bread Pudding, with Irish whiskey caramel sauce and strawberries.

2822 N. HIGH ST. COLUMBUS

If you’re looking for a space to grab a cold one and watch the game, O’Reilly’s is a winner. The neighborhood pub features a cozy atmosphere and a hefty helping of classic subs, burgers, and sandwiches, from the Stacked Ham Sandwich to the Bacon BBQ Burger. A solid crowd pleaser is the pound serving of wings, with three different types of barbecue sauce options with “mild or wild” spice options. →

4022 TOWNSFAIR WAY, COLUMBUS 6652 RIVERSIDE DR., DUBLIN

With two locations on either side of Columbus, Fado is an easy choice no matter where you live. Both spots are dedicated to creating that classic Irish pub atmosphere with Europeaninspired fare. This is the pub you visit when you’re feeling, dare we say it, kind of fancy. How about a lamb burger or the croque monsieur? You also can’t go wrong with a beer and a side of fried goat cheese.

↑ Drinks at Fado Irish Pub in Easton

↑ Interior at Fado Irish Pub in Easton

↑ Guinness at Fado Irish Pub in Easton

Since 1995, Byrne’s has served as a Grandview hub for all things Irish. In fact, co-owner Pat Byrne even helps operate a line of craft Irish whiskey, known as Bua. The Grandview Spot is also a huge patron of both Celtic music and bluegrass, as live musical guests from both genres perform at Byrne’s on the regular.

1409

This unique Merrion Village spot operates both as an Irish pub and a gay bar, making it–according to owners–the city’s sole gay Irish bar. Drag shows are a regular occurrence at Cavan (check out their social media to stay up to date on events), in addition to lively karaoke and more. →

1248 W 3RD AVE.

S. HIGH ST., COLUMBUS

↑ Liquor shelf at McClellan's Pub

↓ The Dublin Village Tavern exterior

↑ The Dublin Village Tavern, draft beer

Right in the middle of Historic Dublin, the Dublin Village Tavern is housed in a building that dates back to 1889. The space boasts substance in addition to style: The bar features Irish imports on tap as well as plenty of craft beer, and there are over 40 brands of Irish whiskey to choose from. The tavern fare also can’t be beat. Grab some Hooley Eggs (hard-boiled eggs wrapped in Irish sausage and flash fried) or Irish Egg Rolls that are filled with corned beef, sauerkraut, and swiss cheese.

With 20 beers on tap and one of the largest whiskey and bourbon selections in Columbus, McClellan’s doesn’t skimp on its drink menu. The menu offers classic American fare as well as pub favorites such as fish and chips and mac-n-cheese. Pro tip: Try the jumbo wings with the Guinness BBQ sauce.

This Lewis Center spot was recently taken over by new owner Jason Adams, but longtime fans of the bar don’t need to worry: It will still feature the same jampacked St. Patrick’s Day celebration and pub fare many came to know it for. After partnering with the Delaware, Ohio-based eatery Shorty’s Pizza & Growl, Adams has retained the best parts of the pub’s menu, while taking things up a notch with Columbus-style pizza. ♦

27 S. HIGH ST., DUBLIN

6694 SAWMILL RD., COLUMBUS

8939 S. OLD STATE RD. LEWIS CENTER

American Gothic

A deep-dive into the Columbus alternative and goth scenes from those who know it best

By

Bela Lugosi is still dead, but the contemporary goth scene, which traces its history back to – and through – the seminal 1979 Bauhaus song, remains alive and, in large part, well.

The scene remains vital here in the (614), too, an inter-generational subculture built on love of the music, shared aesthetics and an affirming, welcoming community that belies the stereotype of the moody, dark, disaffected goth.

(614) Magazine visited with a handful of folks who are connected to the local goth scene to get a better grip on the pulse of the Arch City’s scene.

Story Design by Atlas Biro

Jim Fischer / Photos by Bjӧrn Anderson

Stef Francis

Goths are intimidating. At least that’s what then10-year-old Stef Francis thought about the young guy she saw at the grocery store.

“I was selling Girl Scout cookies. Most people are trying to walk by you without making eye contact. But this guy, with his makeup and piercings, and I remember he liked my sparkly shoes… he was really nice. He bought a couple boxes and paid us a compliment,” Francis, who grew up in Westerville, recalled. “So when I was 10, I Googled ‘How to be a goth.’

“As I got older, it just started resonating,” she said during an interview at a Victorian Village coffee shop. “It was cool. I got into emo and scene kid looks and music that I was finding on the internet. I found I loved the clothing and the image and the self-expression even more than I loved the music. I just kept looking for more and more and, eventually, I was old enough to go out to local events.”

The first of these was a “Broken Hearts Masquerade Ball” at Ace of Cups.

“I was shy but I went with my best friend/nowgirlfriend, and I learned that it’s not that scary to be out with other people,” Francis said.

Francis soon learned several important things about the scene, she said.

First, that events (like the long-standing dance party CHURCH and its monthly counterpart, Cathedral) are inter-generational, featuring young people like herself up through folks who were her age 40 years prior, part of the first generation of goth kids. →

“These are people I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to even meet let alone become friends with,” Francis said. Plus, she said with a smile, “My mom’s not goth but we can still talk about The Cure.”

She also learned that goth and alternative culture is–despite what many stereotypes imply–endlessly welcoming.

“There’s no gatekeeping,” she said. “The scene is healthy, warm and welcoming. Goth culture kind of intersects with different other cultures – queer culture, for example – and it all becomes one big umbrella.”

A hair stylist, Francis is connected to the scene professionally, as well, specializing in goth and alt- cuts and coloring. From her own history pushing the limits with her own hair and what her parents would allow to the feeling she gets when she helps someone with their own self-

Kevin Grimm

“Goth comes from in here,” Kevin Grimm said, pointing to the middle of his chest. “And my heart is as black as hell.”

Grimm was smiling when he said it, but there’s no reason to doubt him.

As DJ KevyKev, he has co-hosted the goth dance night CHURCH for nearly two decades, plus a larger “companion” event, Cathedral, for around 10 years.

But the 57-year-old Grimm offered the look into his heart of darkness as a way to bolster his goth bona fides, after jokingly being asked about his look.

“I guess, aesthetically, I am a failed goth,” Grimm said during an interview at a Short North watering hole. “I have no piercings, visible or otherwise, and I don’t usually wear makeup. But I am dressed head-to-toe in black, although I might be one of only four people who wear sneakers (to CHURCH).”

Grimm said he’s been DJ-ing events since his college days in the mid-80s, starting at Mean Mr. Mustard’s on the Ohio State University campus. He’s worked with a bunch of partners at a litany of venues, most of them Downtown.

“I never really took a break. There was a time when I did six nights a week,” Grimm said.

Eventually, he joined Travis Boggs (aka dj broken boy), starting CHURCH at the original Outland location.

Over the years, their events have developed some signature traditions, too, often driven by the crowd.

“Our crowd loves to sing along,” Grimm said, “so 80 percent or more of the tracks we use have words.”

Since the closing of the second iteration of Outland, the goth scene has been without a regular home, although the scene now knows Cathedral is at Ace of Cups and CHURCH is at Spacebar. Grimm noted that those are live music venues that have added a dance night to their lineups, rather than a formal dance club.

“Travis and I have what we need to turn any venue into what we want,” Grimm said with the confidence of a veteran event host. “And we’ve just grown and grown, so not having a ‘home’... while we miss Outland, it’s more about the people than the space.”

Grimm, like Francis, appreciates the intergenerational aspect of the scene, and what he called the “lack of clique-iness.”

In fact, he said the better other goth nights do, the better it is for his event, for the whole scene.

“It’s not a competition. The more the merrier,” he said. “Community is huge. It offers a level of autonomy for our people. At the same time, we don’t discriminate There’s a home for anyone.” ♦

expression via a new style and/or color, the path to becoming a professional stylist seemed natural.

“Self-expression is at the core of who I am,” she said. “I mean, adornment has always been a part of human expression, how you can tell everyone around you who you are or at least something about yourself. I love being able to help other people do that.”

Today, the 25-year-old Francis admits, she looks kind of intimidating.

“I mean, I have six holes in my face,” she said, not even mentioning her dark makeup and angular haircut. Maybe some little kid will see her and Google what it means to be a goth. ♦

See examples of Stef's work or book a hair consultation via her Instagram, @styledbystef614

Find out when the next CHURCH or Cathedral event is by visiting facebook.com/gothchurch

↑ Stef Francis In her booth at Strut The Salon

↑ Kevin Grimm, Co-host of CHURCH

Jesamie Houghtby

Jesamie Houghtby didn’t know anyone else like himself growing up in Mt. Gilead in Morrow County, about an hour north of Columbus.

“I was always interested in alternative subcultures. But no one else I knew was,” Houghtby said in an interview in a Short North coffee shop. “I was finding community in online spaces. I had tons of friends online, but I was very much by myself.”

Houghtby went on to say that his parents were very supportive, and that his mom taught him how to style his own hair. “She calls me her free spirit,” Houghtby said.

It just wasn’t until arriving at Columbus College of Art and Design that he learned he could actually do anything with either of those interests. Not only that, but combine them.

“I always made my own outfits, and I drew inspiration from darker, even more macabre things,” he said. “As I got more into goth, I just kind of fell into my own design aesthetic. I started college in fine arts, but when I transferred to CCAD, I realized I could do something with fashion.”

At the same time, Houghtby was building community within the Columbus goth scene making friends who were not just dance night companions.

“It saved my life, honestly. I had never had the kind of community I have here. I didn’t even know that kind of community existed until I came to Columbus,” he said. “We get together before dance nights, hang out afterward, attend all kinds of events and do all kinds of things that aren't goth-related.”

Houghtby’s love of the music, which started with his discovery of Crystal Castles, grew too, as he discovered bands both new and old. He picked up bands from friends, dance nights and just leafing through the records and CDs at Used Kids Records.

“I have come to love both old and new goth music equally,” he said. “As I’ve learned the history of the goth scene, it feels like my history.”

Houghtby honed his fashion aesthetic as well, developing a speciality with latex.

“There are not many latex designers. It’s popular in Europe, in the club scenes and the fetish scene there,” he said. “The appeal is what you can make it look like. It’s an interesting material – it looks ethereal but it’s made from natural material.”

He’s taken to adorning his looks with spikes and other hardware, he said, continually inspired by goth style. And recently, he launched a pop-up store for his latex fashion at one of the Cell Five events.

“For the first time, my fashion work seemed real,” he said. “And it all started within the goth community.” ♦

Learn more about Jesamie's fashion collections by visiting jesamie.com

↑ Jesamie Houghtby In his home studio

"IT SAVED MY LIFE, HONESTLY. I NEVER HAD THE KIND OF COMMUNITY I HAVE HERE."

Joey Pigg

Joey Pigg grew up in Florida, steeped in the goth scene first in Miami and later in Tampa. There were established clubs that were known as goth clubs, and Pigg acknowledged Columbus hasn’t had that kind of dedicated space since Outland closed almost a decade ago.

And yet, Pigg acknowledged, it hasn’t really hampered the scene here, which is built on the dedication of individuals and the longstanding events they have created, as well as on the scenesters themselves, a diverse group that features at least three generations of “goth kids.”

“There are bands and events that keep it going through ebbs and flows,” Pigg, who’s been hosting primary one-off events in Columbus for more than a decade, said. “Over the last five years or so, there’s been a renaissance, too, as far as the goth scene, an energy in the scene as far as people going to events.”

Pigg added that, while the scene starts with monthly dance nights, it also offers live acts, a cadre of visual artists and designers (like his own Cell Five, which features those elements, including his own video projections) plus suspension performers.

“It’s bigger than just an 80s-90s music subculture,” Pigg said. “It starts there, or people find that in their exploration, but there’s a very vibrant and creative scene in Columbus.”

Of course, longstanding institutions provide infrastructure for the scene, and older goths still have a home in it, but infusions of younger generations of goth kids is what makes the scene vibrant and energetic, Pigg said.

“Your teen and early 20s are where a lot of people find themselves as a moody, broody place. That’s why the darker imagery and aesthetic,” Pigg said. “For me, I don’t think that I’ve ever lost or outgrown that. I may not always do dark eyeliner or have spiky hair, but that ethic still informs my creativity.”

In fact, he said, the scene has staying power because the community not only shares a predisposition to certain styles and genres, but also emotions and ideologies.

“It’s ‘alternative.’ It’s a look, yes, but that grows out of other things, represents these other things,” Pigg said. “Right now, it runs counter to the growing conservative energy that we’ve seen. It’s a reaction against that... People can tap in on the consumer or the creative end. It works together like one organic community.” ♦

Keep up with Joey at @vjv3nd3tta on Instagram his event Cell Five @cell00000101 on Instagram.

↑ Joey Pigg In his home studio

"OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO, THERE'S BEEN A RENAISSANCE OF ENERGY IN THE GOTH SCENE."

By John M. Clark Section Design by Bryce Patterson

So many of us walk past Columbus landmarks every day, and either don’t know their histories, or don’t think about them, just like any other part of a daily routine.

But did you know one of the Hayden buildings once housed the first offices of the NFL? Or that an intimidating penitentiary hovered over the Arena District until 1958, where so many of us work and eat and socialize today.

With our March cover section, Columbus Through the Years, we’ve compiled a handful of local landmarks with captivating histories. Some you’ll know; others you’ve likely never heard of. But they all have a story to tell, and we want to help keep their fascinating pasts alive and well in the Capital City today. ↓

50 W. Broad St.

The 47-story LeVeque Tower, with its pale, terra cotta outer shell, has been called the “star of the Columbus skyline.” Certainly, it’s the most iconic skyscraper in the city and has been since it was completed in 1927. Architecture critics were soon calling it, “splendid,” “impressive” and “the most original and American of skyscrapers.”

The American Insurance Union (AIU) broke ground on their new, art deco tower in 1924, on the spot of a former, much smaller, home office building at the northeast corner of Front and West Broad.

Construction of such a tall and heavy building next to the Scioto River required new construction techniques – like sinking more than 40 caissons 114 feet into the ground and filling them with concrete. It was a risky technique at the time and claimed the lives of four workers. When it was completed three years later, the new AIU “Citadel” measured 555 feet and five inches tall, intentionally topping the Washington Monument by less than half a foot. It was also the tallest building between New York and Chicago and the fifth-tallest in the world. Early

pilots would look for the new skyscraper as a guidepost to nearby Port Columbus Airport.

Within a few short years AIU found itself near bankruptcy, earning it the nickname, “IOU” Citadel, and was sold to Leslie Laveque and John Lincoln. Through the Great Depression, recessions, name changes and multi-million-dollar upgrades, today’s LeVeque Tower – containing a luxury hotel, condos and apartments –continues to set the standard for Central Ohio skyscrapers.

Remembering nine of the landmarks that shaped our city.

MEMORIAL HALL/OLD COSI

280 E. Broad St.

If you were a child here in the mid-1960s, you likely became a frequent visitor to a dream-filled place called COSI, the Center of Science and Industry. Little did most kids know – or care – that this building where they found such wonder and excitement got its start in 1906 as Franklin County Memorial Hall, built to honor fallen soldiers and sailors.

At the time of its opening, the auditorium in Memorial Hall could seat 4,200 people, who came here for concerts, lectures, church conventions and early radio broadcasts. Only Madison Square Garden in New York could seat more.

During World War I, Memorial Hall served as the headquarters for the local draft board. President Woodrow Wilson began his campaign for a League of Nations here. During World War II, it was a ration center for gasoline and tires.

But the 1950s saw a downturn in the building’s fortunes. There was stiff competition from the new Franklin County Veterans Memorial on West Broad Street. Boiler problems rendered the building unusable in winter. Soon, there were quiet murmurs about what to do with the place.

In 1958, a proposal was made to renovate Memorial Hall into a science museum for children. Six years later, COSI opened to the cheers of thousands. And it remained a popular destination for the next 35 years, acquiring its modern, smoked-glass façade along the way.

BY 1999, COSI had outgrown its home and moved to the expanded Central High School building. The “solar wall” came down, and Memorial Hall regained its original grandeur. Today, it serves as the home of the Franklin County Health Department and other local agencies. 139

OHIO STATE ARSENAL/ CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

At first glance, the Columbus Cultural Arts Center building on West Main Street looks as if it could have opened last year. The exquisite design, excellent construction and subsequent renovations belie the fact it was actually finished in 1861.

Built using convict labor on the site of the state’s first prison, the Ohio State Arsenal was a storehouse for firearms and ammunition and occasionally housed horses for our militia. It’s even been suggested that the octagonal towers at the corners of the building were used in the manufacture of lead shot. Following the Civil War, the National Guard oversaw military activities at the building until the mid-1970s.

By then, the city’s existing arts and crafts center was outgrowing its home inside a rundown fire station on Oak Street.

In 1978, Governor Rhodes directed the Guard to sign a 99-year lease on the old arsenal to the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. The fee – one dollar a year.

Rec and Parks Director Mel Dodge went to work, securing almost one-anda-half million dollars in federal grants for renovations. And before long, Columbus had a new Cultural Arts Center, offering art classes to the public and hosting a variety of exhibits, events and workshops ever since.

However, two reminders of the building’s military history remain. The figurehead from the old Battleship Ohio adorns the northeast corner of the center’s outer wall. And the courtyard contains a bell from the guided missile cruiser, Columbus.

KAHIKI SUPPER CLUB

3583 E. Broad

Kitschy? Or elegant? However, you viewed it, an evening at the Kahiki was one you weren’t likely to forget.

The idea for a tiki-themed supper club in Columbus started with Bill Sapp and Lee Henry, World War II veterans who opened The Top steak restaurant in 1955 and operated a Polynesian-style bar about the same time. When the bar burned, the two began planning for a restaurant with the same theme. The resulting 20-thousand-square-foot supper club on East Broad Street was an instant hit when it opened in 1961.

The large, A-frame building supported a roof that resembled a giant war canoe. Diners approached the front door between two giant Moai statue replicas, similar to the ones found on Easter Island. Once inside, they could sit near a giant aquarium stocked

with tropical fish or next to a “tropical rainforest,” with simulated thunder and lightning.

Then, there were the cocktail waitresses dressed as island residents. One employee would even be summoned by a gong to deliver a huge tropical drink and “smoking” miniature volcano to waiting patrons.

The Kahiki was lauded as the most elaborate tiki restaurant ever built and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. But ownership changed several times, there was a sharp decline in business and in 2000, the famed supper club was demolished and replaced by a drugstore.

Today, the Kahiki name lives on in a line of frozen foods (located at 1100 Morrison Rd. in Gahanna) that was started by the restaurant’s last owner and by a legion of fans who share memories through an organization called the Fraternal Order of Moai.

Before Easton, there was The Continent.

Fifty years ago, developer Bill Bonner opened on Busch Boulevard the first stage of a 60-acre development that would rival many of the “mixed use” areas you’ll find today in Central Ohio.

Soon to come were trendy restaurants and bars, luxury apartments, office buildings, a multi-screen movie theater, a modern fitness gym, even a food hall with 40 independent merchants. Narrow streets and walkways had the feel of a French village – complete with open-air cafes.

In the ‘70s and ‘80s, The Continent and its French Market were the place to be – to sample delicacies, groove to live music and enjoy the spectacle of dancing waters. It was where locals could shop, dine and be entertained – all in one place. They could even live there. Yes, the Continent had it all.

↓ Photo courtesy of Columbus Landmarks

THE CONTINENT

Busch Blvd.

Today, aside from the apartments, The Continent is basically abandoned. So, what happened? Some attribute its decline in the early ‘90s to the opening to the cooler, hipper City Center Mall and the 100-store Mall at Tuttle Crossing. Others note that The Continent, situated in a previously developed part of town, had nowhere to grow.

But the real death knell sounded in 1999, when retailer Les Wexner opened Easton Town Center. At 1,300 acres and growing, Easton is like The Continent –but bigger and flashier. One by one, The Continent’s shops, restaurants, bars and cafes closed their doors.

Those who were around in its heyday recall with fondness their visits to The Continent – a concept that may have been just a little bit ahead of its time.

OHIO STATEHOUSES

Capitol Square

RHODES TOWER

Some called it “Richardson Romanesque;” others described it as “Gothic Revival.” Whichever camp you belonged to, there was no doubting that Columbus’ 1889 Board of Trade Building on the north side of Capitol Square was a stunning architectural achievement.

Built for the city’s Chamber of Commerce, architect Elah Terrell’s structure drew upon his interest in large arches and vaulted ceilings. The sturdy, fivestory, ashlar stone building was designed to project a sense of strength and durability.

A 2,000-seat auditorium at the rear of the building was demolished in 1932. But the iconic Board of Trade Building, itself, lasted until 1969 – five years after the Chamber had left for a new home and during a year in which pieces of the crumbling façade fell to the street.

On an early Sunday morning in February 1852, the unthinkable happened. Fire broke out on the northeast corner of High and State Streets. By the time the sun rose, Ohio’s first permanent statehouse lay in smoldering ruins.

When Ohio became a state in 1803, legislators began meeting in Chillicothe … then in Zanesville … and then back in Chillicothe. Finally, a site across the Scioto River from Franklinton was chosen for the permanent capital “city,” to be named Columbus. The first statehouse, which was completed in 1817, had already been deemed too small by the time of the fire, and work was progressing on its replacement.

The second statehouse had been under construction nearby since 1839. But, unfortunately, that building – the one that serves the state today – wouldn’t be complete for another nine years. And

30 E. Broad St.

That same year, the Ohio General Assembly began studying ways to relieve pressure on the overcrowded Statehouse building. They decided to build a towering office complex on the site of the Board of Trade and two adjacent buildings to the east – the Outlook and Spahr Buildings.

Construction began in 1971, with the 41-story building topping out just 18 months later. Upon completion, the State Office Tower, as it was known, became the tallest structure in Columbus, a title the Laveque Tower had owned since 1927. In 1979, the skyscraper assumed its current name – the Rhodes State Office Tower, after James Rhodes, Ohio’s longest-serving governor.

Recently renovated, today’s Rhodes Tower continues to house several state agencies, as well as a free, 40th-floor observation deck, the highest in central Ohio.

lawmakers were forced to find temporary meeting spaces.

Construction of the second statehouse was slow and often stopped entirely –sometimes for years at a stretch – as legislators battled various funding issues. The new capitol building finally opened in early 1861, just in time for recently elected president Abraham Lincoln to speak to a joint legislative session on his way to Washington.

Despite the addition of an annex on the east side in 1901, the statehouse remained overcrowded, prompting the addition of new floors and hundreds of new offices within the original structure. Many of the overcrowding issues were resolved when the Rhodes State Office Tower opened in 1974 and a seven-year renovation project restored the current statehouse to its original grandeur in 1996.

↑ Photo by Eric D. Lipschutz

SELLS MANSION

755 Dennison Ave.

Believe it or not, Columbus used to be a circus town. In fact, more than a hundred years ago, the Sells brothers operated one of the most successful, traveling “big top” shows in the country. At its peak, 47 railroad cars were required to transport their spectacle from town to town.

In the late 1860s, Ephraim, Allen and Lewis enlisted the help of their little brother, Peter, in helping them realize their dream of owning a traveling circus. They knew Peter to be a good businessman, and he didn’t disappoint them. Soon the four were promoting their show as the “Sells Brothers World Conquering and All Overshadowing Three-Ring Circus.”

Peter’s job was to travel ahead of the circus and make arrangements for its next stop – locating areas to set up the tents and securing rail transportation for the huge production. In 1895, to help ease the

long periods of separation from his young wife and daughter, Peter built them a magnificent home facing Goodale Park.

The Sells Mansion, or “Circus House,” as it came to be known, was designed by local architect Frank Packard. The defining characteristic was a large, sloping roof that evoked thoughts of a circus tent. At three stories high and measuring almost 7,500 square feet, the Sells Mansion was one of the largest in Columbus.

Over the past 128 years, the Sells home has passed through many hands and undergone many changes, and not all for the best. But with its most recent sale, the stately mansion has been returned to its early days of grandeur, delighting everyone who sees it.

OHIO PENITENTIARY

264 W. Spring St. (no longer standing)

Before Park’s Edge Condominiums, before the new Columbia Gas building, before the parks, parking garages, doctors’ offices and restaurants between Neil Avenue and Nationwide Arena, the Arena District was home to a penitentiary. And it loomed large over the entire city.

The State of Ohio had built a small prison in Columbus in 1813, on the site of today’s Cultural Arts Center. But it quickly proved too small to keep up with the new city’s rising population. Within a few short years, construction began on a new facility on the northeast corner of Neil and Spring Avenues. Prisoners began arriving in 1834, even before all of the buildings were complete.

Originally built for 500 inmates, the prison grew to an all-time high inmate population of more than 5,000 in 1955. Overcrowding led to horrendous conditions. A 1930 fire killed 322 inmates, which served as the world’s deadliest prison fire until a 2012 blaze in Honduras. A 1968 riot over poor living conditions led to the deaths of five prisoners and injuries to seven officers.

By 1979, the Ohio State Penitentiary had been renamed the Columbus Correctional Facility. Due to its age, overcrowding and general deterioration, the federal government soon ordered it closed. The state began moving inmates to other facilities, and the last prisoner left the facility in August 1984.

The old pen remained vacant for more than a decade, before being sold to the City of Columbus in 1995. Three years later, the wrecking ball was brought in, clearing the way for the construction of much of today’s Arena District.

Just in time for spring, we’re here to help you bring some plant life into your life

By Jack McLaughlin

Story Design by Victoria Smith

If there’s one thing we know about spring, it’s the rebirth of the natural world, from leaves to tree blossoms and planted flowers. But don’t let the outdoors have all the fun: we’ve created a fresh home design section dedicated entirely to plants, how to spruce up your house with them, which ones to buy and much more. →

While big plants can make a big statement, small pieces can be just as impactful, and are typically easier to manage. Don’t underestimate what a well-placed coffee table succulent can do for your diggs.

There’s plenty of time to get into the difficult stuff later. It’s best to start with plants that are easy to grow (and hard to kill, if you’re like me). Snake plants, spider plants, bamboo, peace lilly, aloe vera and so many more are great options.

If you’re searching for a way to liven up a room with dark corners or underlit sections, opt for a plant that prefers low light. There are a wide variety of options to pick from in this regard, including popular plants like the zz plant, snake plant and more.

A great way to create the illusion of space and height (especially in a room with lower ceilings or a more enclosed feel) is by setting up a taller plant. Something like a fig leaf tree is a great option in this case.

↑ Plant in low lighting, photo courtesy Shutterstock

↑ Tall plant, photo courtesy Shutterstock

↑ Simple plants, photo courtesy Shutterstock

↑ Small plant, photo courtesy Shutterstock

Have a table or space you can’t seem to fill out? Opting to combine a variety of smaller plants bundled together can create an interesting and eye-catching design element. To go the extra mile, combine plants with different heights and colors to produce a great deal of depth.

This rule rears its head throughout a number of design practices, and it holds true when sprucing up your space with plants. Opting for an even number of plants can often end up being too symmetrical, which ends up looking awkward or rehearsed. Sticking with odd numbers creates a more casual, and natural, feel.

While potted plants are great on a flat table, and will always have a place in home design, one way to create a fun, fresh look is to hang some of your smaller plants by the ceiling. While these might look elaborate, rope plant harnesses can be purchased at a wide variety of stores, and are relatively inexpensive to buy.

Wrangling together pots in the same color palette can help keep a space unified. Or, you can do the opposite. Combining plants with a range of colors and designs can create a high-energy and eye-catching look.

↑ Hanging plants, photo courtesy Shutterstock

↑ Small plants, photo courtesy Shutterstock

↑ Combining colored pots, photo courtesy Shutterstock

↓ Five succulents, photo courtesy Shutterstock

By Sarah Sole / Photos by Aaron Massey

Story Design by Victoria Smith

As much as we love Columbus, we’d be doing a disservice to our readers if we didn’t pay attention to our surrounding suburbs every once in a while. Enter our Neighborhoods Spotlight series. This time, we’re focusing on our northwest cousin, Dublin. The city has made a name for itself over the years for its annual Memorial Tournament which kicks off May 29, as well as the Dublin Irish Festival, which regularly draws more than 100,000 attendees over multiple days.

And while Dublin is quickly becoming a hotbed for its numerous restaurants, don’t sleep on its outdoor attractions, either. Take a stroll through Riverside Crossing Park, a recent addition to the city that includes waterside trails, sweeping views of the Scioto, flowing water fountain features, and even gas fireplaces at some spots.

A trek across the city’s iconic bridge, The Dublin Link, is always in season when the weather is warming up. At 760 feet, The Link–as it’s often called–is the longest single-tower S-shaped suspension bridge in the world, according to the City of Dublin.

Additionally, Scioto Park and its famous monument depicting the Wyandotte leader Chief Leatherlips is more than a premiere sledding spot, boasting nature trails, an amphitheater and more that can be enjoyed in the spring as well.

In the mood for something different? Field of Corn, located at the corner of Rings Road and Frantz Road on Dublin’s south side, isn’t exactly what it seems. In lieu of a field with a corn crop, this sculpture installation park features more than 100 corn cob sculptures that stand over six feet tall each.

Over the last several years, Dublin has also become known for Bridge Park, an impressive feat of planning courtesy of real estate developer Crawford Hoying that’s a blend of residential living, food, nightlife, retail, and health and wellness. And the development is growing so quickly that there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it quality akin to Easton or even the Short North. Read on to learn more about which spots to hit no matter what kind of vibe you’re after.

When you want a fancy night out, The Pearl is a solid bet, with a sizable menu that’s perfect for a date night or shareables among friends. If the “turf” portion of “surf and turf” is more your bag, there’s The Avenue Steak Tavern. When the weather is behaving though, you’d be wise to spend an evening outdoors, at VASO’s rooftop bar.

When you need a place to take the kids, grab some subs for the whole family at Frank & Carl’s before heading on over to Pins Mechanical Co. for some duckpin bowling. The best part? You can walk on over to Weenie Wonder to grab some milkshakes for dessert.

Can’t make up your mind? North Market Bridge Park—just like its downtown counterpart—offers visitors the dining selections of a food hall, with marketplaces, and even the hopping Market Bar where you can grab a drink to finish off the evening.

If craft beer is your thing, Getaway Brewing–a travel-themed offshoot of Seventh Son and Antiques on High–offers beer, cocktails and more in a unique space, all just a stone’s throw away from Bridge Park. ♦

↑ Field of Corn sculpture

↑ Bridge Park in Dublin

↑ North Market Bridge Park

↑ Aerial view of The Dublin Link

By Molly Hammond / Story Design by Victoria Smith

First Responders Park, photo by James DeCamp

The city of Westerville, which has become the largest suburb in Central Ohio, has managed to keep its small-town atmosphere while preserving its rich history and culture. Many residents regard the city's allure and the historic Uptown District

Westerville can trace its roots back to 1806, when Edward Phelps, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, and his friend Issac Griswold, set up a settlement on Alum Creek, near the junction of Westerville Road and St. Rte. 161, otherwise known as Blendon Corners. Then, in 1809, the Sharp family became the first to inhabit what is now considered the city limits of Westerville.

The city then saw the passage of a local prohibition ordinance, a law that businessman Henry Corbin challenged twice, in 1875 and 1879. This resulted in the dynamiting of Corbin's saloons, famously known as the 'Westerville Whiskey Wars'. The town earned its nickname, 'Dry Capital of the World', after the Anti-Saloon League of America moved its headquarters and printing company, American Issue Publishing Company, to the area in 1909.

In an ironic change of pace, Westerville now hosts a craft beer festival each year. Uptown Untapped is a unique celebration that pays homage to the city's history as the "Dry Capital of the World" while embracing its bright future in the Uptown district. This festival brings together local breweries, restaurants, and musicians to the same streets that the Anti-Saloon League used to connect the city to the rest of the country.

If you’re looking to get outdoors, the Hoover Sailing Club, a volunteer-driven organization that encourages sailing as a sport among members and guests, is a great place to start. They offer a variety of educational and recreational programs to create a vibrant community learning to have fun on the Hoover Reservoir.

Additionally, the Westerville Bike and Walkways (B&W) system is popular among thousands weekly. This recreational path stretches for 51 miles, passing through parks, wooded spots, fields, rivers, roads, streets, and neighborhoods.

A walk around the historic Otterbein University campus to take in its historic Victorian Gothic architecture is great no

matter the season, but it’s exceptionally idyllic in the spring with the local redbuds in bloom. First Responders Park and its memorial to fallen officers is also great for a daytime stroll.

After working up an appetite on the trail or water, you can head to the totallyunique Asterisk Supper Club, which is billed as an “exclusive, yet inclusive” dining establishment with floor-to-ceiling bookcases and stunning chandeliers. The restaurant has the feel of a whimsical country estate and offers afternoon tea with a refined a dinner menu in the heart of Westerville.

If you’d prefer to stay casual, Cardinal Pizza offers both Columbus and New YorkStyle pizza, alongside a great selection of craft beer. Looking for pizza, but feel like mixing it up? DiCarlo’s Pizza, serving Ohio Valley-style pies, tops each square, thick-crust pizza with cheese after it’s out of the oven.

The city that was once a prohibition hotbed does currently operate a craft brewery as well. Uptown Deli & Brew serves their own beer in-house, alongside a array of hearty sandwiches and more.

Cap off the day with something sweet by stopping by Whit’s Frozen Custard–a classic summer carryout spot–or the foodierevered Little Ladies Soft Serve, which features a number of creative and indulgent soft serve sundaes.

Westerville has, over the years, been a symbol of equality and education in Franklin County, as its own Otterbein College (established in 1847) was the first institution of higher learning in the United States to admit women and students of color without restriction and hire them on its faculty - a remarkable achievement for a time before the Civil War. The university is now home to over 2,000 students and is a popular landmark for those visiting the area.

For close to two hundred years, Westerville has been through a lot of alterations. But, throughout it all, the people of the city have shown immense pride in their culture and heritage, as well as having a clear outlook for the future. This legacy is carried on by the descendants of the original settlers who fought in the Revolutionary War, as well as those who assisted the Underground Railroad, to the current citizens of Westerville who are committed to making it a better place for the generations to come. ♦

↑ First Responders Park, photo by James DeCamp

↑ Otterbein University, photo by James DeCamp

↑ Cardinal Pizza, photo by Aaron Massey

By Laura Hennigan / Story Design by Victoria Smith

hink back to your last vacation. You know you were staring at your phone. Checking email and social media. Posting photos. Maybe you even brought your laptop along?

Most of us are long overdue for a disconnected getaway that includes less technology and more time spent watching sunrises, reading a book, sitting around a fire, and walking through the woods.

We’ve done a little research and discovered a few unique Ohio travel spots that you’ve likely never heard of, right here in our own backyard. Within a few hours drive you can find locales off the beaten path that are perfect for escaping, exploring, and completely unplugging.

Take a closer look at some secluded hidden gems right here in the Buckeye State that are close enough for a weekend away and remote enough to still feel a little wild.

For nearly three decades, the Arc of Appalachia land conservation has been buying land in the southern part of the state in an effort to fulfill its mission of preserving beauty, balance, and biodiversity in Appalachian Ohio. The organization oversees 24 preserve regions teeming with native plants and animal species (several properties are located within a bat sanctuary) in addition to offering over 50 public trails. Visitors to the expansive area can explore miles of untouched earthworks, prairies, and bluffs without ever seeing another person.

The Highlands Nature Sanctuary provides a quiet respite after a long day of hiking, offering lodging options that include rooms, cabins, and even monolithic dome houses for one to ten guests, and the non-profit also operates a handful of other cozy retreats throughout rural Bainbridge and Hillsboro. Cell service at most properties is spotty at best, so make sure to plan ahead. →

*Rates differ at

↑ Arc of Appalachia, photo courtesy Arc of Appalachia

Tucked into the heart of Holmes County, True Nature provides holistic retreats on its 9 acres of rolling hills, open meadows, forest, and creeks. Emphasizing the “medicine of nature,” the restorative overnight retreats are offered year-round for individuals, couples, and small groups. Classes and treatments like yoga, massage, breema, and meditation are included in most packages, along with seasonal, locally sourced meal offerings.

The property is enclosed in forest, creating a natural sanctuary which allows guests to feel like they are completely isolated from the rest of the world. Visitors can enjoy modern comforts when staying in one of the comfortable indoor lodging options, truly escape to nature in the outdoor tipi, or even bring their own tent for camping.

Glamplyfe advertises itself as a luxurious lifestyle company seeking to spread happiness through unique nature experiences and creative architectural design. Just an hour outside Columbus, its Happydale Retreat offers a series of A-frame units designed for two to three guests to enjoy the beauty of the area while glamping. The rustic, dog-friendly cabins overlook a private lake and come equipped with either a queen sized bed or two twins, cozy reading corner, and outdoor fire pit space.

Every hideaway has an oversized picture window, perfect for daydreaming or stargazing, and there’s a separate, private bathroom building complete with showers, sinks, and toilets. An on-site trailer sells coffee, snacks, and drinks, and there’s also a BBQ available for grilling. →

*Rates start at

*Rates start at

↑ True Nature Retreat, photos courtesy True Nature

↑ Happydale Retreat, photos courtesy Happydale

For the ultimate in privacy and seclusion, Turtle Shell Island on Indian Lake has just one cottage, situated on a strip of land completely cut off from everything else. You’ll need to provide your own transportation from the mainland to the island, but once there you’ll be rewarded with a peaceful stay that includes sweeping views of the water, fishing, swimming, and shuffleboard.

Two comfortable bedrooms means you can come alone or bring a few friends to this lake escape, and with no Wifi available you’ll be able to truly unwind and unplug. A fireplace, sunroom, and upper deck round out this unique property, helping you soak up every minute of island time.

Not far from Toledo, you’ll find the Eco Camp, a creative, playful, solar-powered tent resort. Each of the 16-foot Lotus Belle outback tents are equipped with a queen sized mattress, cots, butane stove, and a battery pack for charging phones and tablets. Guests share two communal outdoor kitchens, a shower house, furnished group shelter, and fire ring in this environmentally sustainable camp.

Eco Camp partners with the Maumee River Paddle Co. to offer guided paddle board lessons and excursions, or visitors can enjoy the outdoors in one of many local metro parks. It’s the perfect place for going off the grid and connecting with nature, without the nuisance of having to pitch your own tent.

*Rates start at

*Rates start at

↓ Turtle Shell Island, photos courtesy Turtle Shell Island

↑ Eco Camp, photo courtesy Eco Camp

Another one of the hidden gems nestled in the Hocking Hills, this long-standing inn and spa offers not only cabins and smaller cottages for rent, but also a handful of spacious geodomes and cozy yurts.

Located several miles south of Logan, the Inn is composed of a series of cozy dwellings scattered across a tree-lined, sloping hillside. This means the Inn’s on-site restaurant is only a short walk from the cabins, yurts and geodomes, and the collection of buildings together feels a bit like a secret village hidden away in the Appalachian wilderness. ♦

*Rates differ depending on which of the four lodging varieties you prefer.

↑ Cedar Falls, photos courtesy Cedar Falls

By Jack McLaughlin

Throughout the whirlwind of pandemic-related catastrophes, there’s a smattering of happy accidents that we can look back on today and appreciate with perspective.

These include the advent of ghost kitchens, the rise of remote work, and a greater appreciation for our social freedom that has (largely) returned to normal.

This something Ron Williams, the cofounder of the business now known as Rulaco Tiny Homes, knows all too well. →

How a pandemicinduced pivot to tiny homes became the biggest move yet for one former remodeling service

Photos by Aaron Massey

Story Design by Bryce Patterson

If you had asked him about the state of his company–which was highly regarded as a top home and business remodel specialist after more than two decades–in 2020, while his team was finishing interior work on Market Bar, one of North Market Bridge Park’s cornerstone vendors, his response would have been dire.

“At that point, it was our only job, because at the time people just didn’t want others coming into their homes,” he said.

That’s when Williams and Rulaco co-founder Tom Culp knew they had to pivot if their brand were going to survive, and they did so starting small. Literally.

“I think the world changed a bit during the pandemic. The way people work today and look at what's important has a lot of them downsizing their lives. Which means more and more tiny homes,” Williams said. “The tiny house idea started creeping into our minds and the next thing we knew, we were up in Michigan buying our first trailer to build a home on.”

And just like that, Rulaco was born. Well, reborn, more accurately. Today, the business operates as a full-time builder of the trendy tiny homes.

According to WIlliams, the company’s switch– which included a move into a 7,500 square-foot shop on Joyce Ave.–has included a learning curve for the company’s seven-person team. While Rulaco previously operated out of a 1,200 square-foot space in Westerville, the crew was peregrine while the company still focused on remodeling, working primarily from the site of whatever job they were on that day.

“As easy as it looks to build smaller houses, I wish it was that easy,” Williams said. “We’ve had to change our mindset from being home remodelers to getting everything people need in a 200 squarefoot home; that took some learning. And we’re still learning how to totally utilize that space, make it functional, build them so they’re energy efficient and green.”

Williams said–aside from the freedom and mobility the style of living affords–the idea of energy-efficiency is another reason that’s central to the tiny home explosion.

“The whole industry is looking at the wastefulness of the way we utilize energy and home use and trying to make things better,” he said.

Tiny homes from Rulaco are typically in the realm of 20 feet by 8 feet, although nearly all of the process is customizable. Each home is built from the ground up–over a three-month period–on specialty trailers which serve as the homes’ foundations and allow them to be moved from site to site.

And throughout the country, more and more areas are going small as well. Tiny-home friendly laws are popping up everywhere from the City of Los Angeles to the states of Maine and Minnesota.

Closer to home, pockets of Ohio have also become Midwestern champions for the movement. Just along the Buckeye State’s border with Indiana, Cedar Springs Tiny Village in New Paris, Ohio serves as a lakefront community made entirely of tiny homes.

Hocking Hills Tiny Homes–many of which are less than an hour from Downtown Columbus–offers a handful of different airbnb-style tiny home properties for rent, many starting at as little as $89 per night.

“It’s really opened my 58 year-old mind up to the benefits that people can get from having less stuff, and I think a lot of people see it that way too. There’s a whole lot on the horizon for tiny homes,” Williams said.

To learn more visit: rulaco.com